Connie Berger, Principal, Heights High School, cordially invites you to a dedication ceremony of a historic flag donated by the John R. Burkett-Beverly E. Miller, American Legion Post 77, Houston, Texas.
Heights High School
413 East 13th Street
Houston, Texas 77008
Thursday, November 9, 2017
10:00 A.M.
Visitors will be directed to the dedication site after registering at the school’s main office.
This flag was carried in the World War I Victory Parade in Paris, France in 1919. Ms. Berger would be honored with your attendance.
RSVP
Myra Erwin Easter at myra.erwin@gmail.com
Betty R. Manbeck at alaunit77houstontx@hotmail.com
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Transcript of Ceremony:
CEREMONY IN HONOR OF STARS AND STRIPES
1919 – WORLD WAR I
THANK YOU FOR GATHERING WITH US TODAY ON THIS VERY SPECIAL AND HISTORIC OCCASION. TODAY WE WILL HONOR, COMMEMORATE AND DEDICATE THIS HISTORIC FLAG WHICH WAS FLOWN AND PROUDLY MARCHED ON PARADE BY ALLIED TROOPS IN WORLD WAR I. IN 1912 TWO STARS WERE ADDED TO THE UNITED STATES FLAG, REPRESENTING ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STARS TO 48 FOR THE 48 STATES OF THE USA WHICH WAS BEFORE ALASKA AND HAWAII WERE ADDED TO THE UNION.
AMERICAN INFANTRY SOLDIERS CARRIED THESE STARS AND STRIPES AND REGIMENTAL FLAGS IN THE VICTORY PARADE OF ALLIED TROOPS IN PARIS AFTER WORLD WAR I AND PASSED UNDERNEATH THE FAMOUS ARC DE TRIOMPHE WHICH HONORED VICTORIOUS TROOPS RETURNING FROM BATTLE SINCE THE TIME OF NAPOLEON.
ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WHO CARRIED THIS AMERICAN FLAG ON PARADE IS THE SURVIVING BROTHER OF CAPTAIN JOHN R. BURKETT WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN AN OPERATION ALONG THE MEUSE DURING THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE. CAPTAIN JOHN R. BURKETT SERVED IN THE 90 DIVISION, 1ST BATTALION, 359TH INFANTRY. THE MEUSE-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MASS-ARGONNE OFFENSIVE AND THE BATTLE OF THE ARGONNE FOREST, WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE FINAL ALLIED OFFENSIVE OF WORLD WAR I. THIS OFFENSIVE SPANNED THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WESTERN FRONT AND LASTED 47 DAYS FROM SEPTEMBER 26, 1918 UNTIL ARMISTICE DAY ON NOVEMBER 11, 1918. THE MEUSE- ARGONNE OFFENSIVE IS CHRONICLED IN THE BOOK “THE HISTORY OF THE 90TH DIVISION” WHICH DESCRIBES THE OPERATION ALONG THE MEUSE.
THIS SAME AMERICAN FLAG WAS GIFTED TO THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 77 WHICH LATER CHANGED ITS NAME TO THE JOHN R. BURKETT – BEVERLY E. MILLER AMERICAN LEGION POST77 IN HONOR OF THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF JOHN R. BURKETT (WWI) AND BEVERLY E. MILLER (WWII). CAPTAIN JOHN R. BURKETT WAS THE SON OF E.M. BURKETT AND ABBE BURKETT, BOTH CHARTER MEMBERS OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 77 AND UNIT 77.
BEVERLY E. MILLER SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES, 319TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 325TH FIGHTER GROUP IN WORLD WAR II. HE DIED IN COMBAT ON MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1944 AND WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART. HE WAS MEMORIALIZED AT THE FLORENCE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN VIA CASSIA, ITALY AND HIS NAME APPEARS ON THE WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AS BURIED AT SEA. BEVERLY E. MILLER WAS THE SON OF FRED MILLER, AN ORIGINAL CHARTER MEMBER OF POST 77, AND IDA MILLER, PAST PRESIDENT OF UNIT 77 AND GOLD STAR MOTHER.
THESE STARS AND STRIPES FORMERLY HUNG IN THE OLD POST 77 HOME LOCATED AT 5505 KELVIN, HOUSTON, TX. THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 77 NOW PROUDLY LENDS THIS HONORABLE AND HISTORIC FLAG TO HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL TO BE PROUDLY DISPLAYED IN ORDER TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO WIN AND PRESERVE THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION, OUR SACRED FREEDOM AND WAY OF LIFE.
